CHAPTER IV 

 ARTIFICIAL FLIES 



1. Two theories why fish take the artificial 



fly- 

 Just how or when the first artificial trout 

 fly was made it is impossible to tell. No 

 doubt some old-time hunter noticed that the 

 fish were feeding on certain insects, and, 

 finding that the insects were not particularly 

 lasting when affixed to a crude hook, he 

 thereupon attempted to construct a service- 

 able imitation. Since then great improve- 

 ments have taken place in fly tying, until 

 to-day we have imitations of most of the 

 insects found on and about our lakes and 

 rivers, plus a good many " fancy " flies, which 

 have no prototypes amongst the naturals. 

 An artificial fly is, of course, designed with 

 the idea of deceiving trout. It is, therefore, 

 reasonable to suppose that the closer it is in 

 appearance to the natural insect, the more 

 will the fish approve of it. Now, there are 



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